Control means for aircraft wing flaps



June 1944- c. GLIUBICH 2,350,751

CONTROL MEANS FOR AIRCRAFT WING FLAPS Filed Oct. 5, 1940 Fig.2

including worms, worm wheels Patented June 6 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MEANS FOR AIRCRAFT WING FLAPS Y Carlo Gliubich, Milan, Italy; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application October 5, 1940, Serial No. 359,941 In Italy October 10, 1939 Claims.

particularly, to adjust said wing flaps into their normal flight position from their taking off position on the aircraft reaching a predetermined speed.

In this invention the service motor or electromotor which actuates said wing flaps is subject to a control responsive to the aircraft speed and causing the servo-motor to operate as necessary to adjust said wing flaps into their normal flight position on the aircraft reaching a predetermined speed.

The speed responsive device may include a Pitot tube or a Venturi tube or a centrifugal governor operated by the flying or relative wind stream the actuation of the wing iiaps may be effected by-means of an electromotor or a servomotor of any appropriate class.

An embodiment of this invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the annexed drawing in which:

Fig. lillustrates diagrammatically an arrangement in accordance with this invention with a Pitot tube control device motor actuating means;

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically. the section of a wing with a wing flap cooperating therewith, this wing flap being shown in full line, in dotted line and in chain line in the several positions in which it may be carried. 7

In the illustrated embodiment, l denotes the rotor of a reversible electric motor M intended to actuate the wing flap 2 of a wing 2 (Fig. 2) of an aircraft by means of a drive of any suitable class, not shown, which may include a drum actuated by said rotor l and ropes operated by said drum and actuating said flap 2 or a gear drive and shafts; the motor M includes two field windings l, i for its operation in reverse directions, said windings being adapted to be connected alternatively by means of conductors O and I! or I and ll, with and reversible electric wing flaps when the aircraft has reached a predetermined speed and, more its normal flight one terminal of a supply .battery I by means of relays including coils 9, II and armatures ll, l2 which are urged by springs l2 into their opencircuit positions; the feeding circuit of the motor M is completed through the rotor I and a conductor H which leads to the opposite terminal of the battery 8.

The relay coils 8, II have one end connected in common with a conductor I5 and a terminal of the battery 8, and they arecontrolled by means of a controller l6 whose quadrant contact I! is connected with the terminal of the battery I opposedto that from which the conductor It leads; this connection of the quadrant contact ll with the respective terminaloi the battery 8 is provided by means of conductors II, It in which a switch denoted in its whole by 29 is inserted as hereinafter described. 1

The opposed ends of the coils 8, II are connected with contacts 20 and 2| of the controller 16 which correspond respectively to the positions of the wing flaps for normal flight and for land-- ing (said positions being referenced 2 and 2" in Fig. 2) by means of leads 22, 23 and 24, 25in which the end-stroke stop switches 26; 21 are inserted, respectively, these switches being usually cut-in and being adapted to be moved into 'cut-out position by the respective cam arms 22,

28. under the action of the actuating means for the wing flap 2 at the time it takes its normal flight position and its landing position, respec tively.

The controller l6 includes a third contact 22 for the taking on! position of the wing flap, said position being intermediate the vnormal night position and the landing position and being shown at 2' in Fig. 2; said contact 29 is connected by the lead 20 with movable contacts 22, 32' of a double switch ll whose stationary contacts 22, 22' are connected with the relay coils I and l I by the leads I4, 23 audit, 2!, respectively.

A can arm 28 operating the movable contacts 22, 22' of the switch 2| is actuated by the wing flap drive to open the contacts 22.23 and 22', 32' atithe time the wing flap 2 isinits taking of! position while at the time said flap 2 Passes from position to its taking off position-or vice-versa, said contacts 82', 22' are closed and said contacts II, a are held'open; the conspective actuating means have brought the flaps to the desired position. For the actuation of said switches there are shown diagrammatically the arms 28, 28', 35,which are connected with control cams (not shown) operative on switch contacts or with spindles carrying said cams, and said arms are actuated by a member of thetransmission which'is driven in revolution by the rotor The quadrant contact H of the controller-l6 is bridged selectively with any of the contacts 20,

' 2|, 29 by means of a wiping contact 36 actuated by' the operator by means of the handle 31 fast on the spindle 38 having in turn said contact 33 fast thereon; in the zero-position of said ,wiping contact 36 all the circuits are disconnected.

The device of this invention intended to cause the wing flap 2 to pass automatically from its taking off position to its normal flight position at the time the aircraft has reached a predetermined speed, includes the switch 39 having two stationary contacts 40, 4| which are connected respectively with the lead I8 leading to the quadrant contact ll of the controller l8 and with the lead 42 connected with the lead 22 which connects the normal flight controller contact 28'with the movable contact of the stop switch 26 for normal flight; a movable contact 43 fulcrumed at 44 in the switch 39 is connected with the lead 19 which in turn is connected with the supply battery 8, and is actuated by a-device responsive to the aircraft speed.

'- In the illustrated embodiment the aircraft speed responsive device includes a Pitot tube comprising a tube 45 pointing towards the flight direction and having orifices 46, 41 at its ends for the flow of air therethrough; the tube 45 is connected by means of a duct 48 with an expansible bellows 49 which controls the movable contact 43 of the double switch 33 by means of a rod 50.

The bellows 49 is located within a sealed casing 69 which is connected by a duct with a chamber 52 which in turn opens in a tube 54 point- 'ing towards the flying wind or flight direction through "an air flow damping labyrinth or air pervious partition 53.

The air pressure operative within the bellows 49 during the aircraft flight through the tube 45 and the duct 48, has a value corresponding with a total pressure being the sum of the static .air

pressure and of the flyin speed generated dynamic pressure, while the air entering the chamber 69 through the tube 54, chamber 52 and duct 5| and operative in said chamber 60 after its full dynamic energy has been lost through the partition 53, generates a pressure which corresponds Consequently the action of the bellows '43 on the rod 59 and movable contact 43 depends upon the aircraft speed with the static air pressure,

and said bellows by effect of its own resiliency lows 49 expands to cause the contact 43 to release the contact 49 and to engage the contact 4|.

As above suggested any other device responsive to the aircraft speed and adapted to control the movable contact 43 in a manner depending upon the aircraft speed may be used in lieu of the above described device.

In operation, at the time the wing flap 2 has been adjusted into its landing position 2" from its normal flight position 2 and the contact 36 has been carried on to the contact 2|, the circuit of the relay isopen at the stop switch 21 and the circuit of the relay 9 is closed as follows preparatory to the flap passage into its taking off position: contact 29, lead 38, contacts 32 and 33 in closed position, leads 34 'and 23, relay 9, conductor l5, battery 8, lead I9, contacts 43 and 49 which are held interengaged by the bellows 49 wherein no dynamic pressure is operative inthe assumed conditions, lead' l8 and quadrant contact H; on the wiping contact 36 being moved onto the contact 29 the relay 3 is energised which causes its armature contact H) to close and consequently causes the battery 8 to supply the circuit 8, I4, I, 4, 6, l9, l5 of the motor M which is thus made operative in a direction to cause the wing flap 2 to move from its landing position 2" into its taking of! position 2' (Fig. 2).

On the wing flap 2 reaching itstaking ofi position 2 its drive operates the arm 35 of double switch 3| to separate contacts 32, 33; then the energisation of the relay 9 is cut out and the motor M comes to rest, while a circuit intended to energise the relay 9 to cause the further operation of the motor M in the same direction as that of theabove described operation to adjust the wing flap '2 into its normal flight position 2 is prepared as follows: 20, 22, 26 (closed), 23, 9, l5, 8, I9, 43, 40, l8, l1; accordingly the wing flap 2 may be caused to take its normal flight position from its taking ofl position by bringing the wiping contact 36 of the controller |6 onto the contact 20, thus causing the energisation of the relay 9 and closing thearmature contact ||l of the motor supply circuit.

On the other hand, .due to the described arrangement, the energisation of the relay 9 is also prepared by the circuit 8, I9, 43, 4|, .42, 26 (closed), v23, 9, l5 this circuit standing open at the contacts 43, 4| until the bellows 49 causes the movable contact 43 to separate from the contact 49 and to engage the contact 4| as an effect of the mal flight position 2 automatically as soon as 2 the aircraft has reached a speed at which the engagement of the contacts 43, 4| occurs under the action of the dynamic air pressure operative within the bellows 49: on the other hand the adjustment of said wing flap into its normal flight position 2 may be caused in any case and at any time by an operator by bringing the contact 36 over the normal flight contact 20.

At the time the wing flap 2 moves from its taking ofl position 2' to take its normal flight position 2, the contacts 32", 33' are closed and on said flap 2 reaching its normal flight position 2" the cooperating stroke end switch 26 opens, to cut in any'case the energisation of the relay 9 both when the circuit of this relay has been closed automatically at contacts 4|, 43 and when said circuit has been closed under an operator's contact 3. in engagement the flap is accordingly held position.

action bringing the with the contact 20: in its normal flight l5, 8, I9, 43, 40, l8, i1, 38 and it stands open until such time as the aircraft speed has dropped below the normal flight position. 01' course a speed reduction occurs before the aircraft is put in conditions for landing; on such a speed drop occurring the bellows I moves the contact 13 into engagement with the contact ll as an effect of the drop of the dynamic pressure within it, said bellows 49 and contacts 43, ll thus preparing the circuit of the relay II which is energised at the time the operator brings the contact 36 on the landing contact II; the l2 thus moves at this instant 8, I4, I, 5, I, l2, I! in conditions to supply the motor M for its operation in such direction as necessary to adjust the wing flap 2 into its landing position 2".

At the time the wing flap position 2" the switch 21 cuit opening condition and relay H is cut out.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An arrangement for automatic control of a 2 reaches its landing brought into its cirthe circuit of the determined value.

2. An arrangement for automatic control of a wing flap of an aircraft wing comprising anoperative by said rection to bring said position selectively from cated in said casing slowing under a said first named relay to bring said flap from its taking oil. position into its normal flight position under the action of said speed responsive means on the aircraft speed exceeding a predetermined value and said automatic control means also including means presetting said energizing circuit for said second relay for its energization by said hand actuated controller to bring said flap from its normal flight position into its landing position on the aircraft speed slowing under a predetermined value.

3. An arrangement for automatic control of a wing flap of an aircraft wing comprising means actuating said flap to bring it to either taking off position, normal flight position or landing position selectively from another of said positions,

actuated control means for said energizing means, means for said energizing means and a Pitot tube responsive to the aircraft speed and applying to said automatic control means a pressure depending on said aircraft speed, said automatic control means being operated by said pressure to make said ene means operative to bring said flap from its taking off position into its normal flight position on said aircraft speed and pressure exceeding a predetermined value and said automatic control means also including means presetting said energizing means for being made operative by said hand actuated control means to bring said flap from its normal flight position into its landing position on said aircraft speed and pressure slowing under a predetermined value.

4. An arrangement for automatic control of a wing flap of an aircraft wing comprising means actuating said flap to bring it to either taking oil position, normal flight position or landing another of said positions, means for energizing said actuating means, hand actuated control means for said energizing means, automatic control means for said ene means, a sealed casing in which the static air pressure is operative, a Pitot tube responsive to the aircraft speed and an expansible bellows loand fed by said Pitot tube. said automatic control means being operated by said bellows to make said energizing means operative to bring said flap from its taking 0!! position into its normal flight position on the aircraft speed exceeding a predetermined value and said automatic control means also including means presetting said energizing means for being made hand actuated control means from its normal flight position position on the aircraft speed predetermined value.

5. An arrangement for automatic control of a wing flap of an aircraft wing comprising a reversible electromotor for actuating said flap to bring it in either taking oi! position, normal flight position or landing position selectively from another or said positions, means connected with said electromotor to feed it with electric curl-mt for its operation in reverse directions, a relay controlling the connection of said feeding means with said electromotor for the operation thereof in one direction to bring said flap into its normal flight position, a second relay controlling the connection of said feeding means with said electromotor for the operation thereof in the other diflap into its landing position, n izing circuits for said flrst and named relays, flap stroke end switches for said en circuits, at hand actuatedwntroilsg to bring' said flap into its landi g energizing circuit for said first named relay to 2,350,751 ,for'said energizing circuits, a two position switch bring said flap irpin its taking ofl position into its normal flight position on the aircraft speed exceeding a predetermined value and to preset said energizing circuit for said second relay for its energization by said hand actuated controller to bring said flap from its normal flight position into its landing position on the aircraft speed slowing under a predetermined value.

CARLO GLIUBICH. 

